Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-17
THE TEXAS OUTRAGE.
Incidents Of the Occurrence as Mar
rated by Witnesses Thereto.

w WASHINGTON, ID. O., FEB. lb.-EX
animation Of the witnesses in respect tc
alleged political irregularities in Washing
ton county, Texas, was continued this
morning. The committee decided as 8
general principle to admit only witnesses
under examination, counsel on both sides
and the press.
The colored witness, 7. II. Jones, whose
examination was begun yesterday, was
again called to the stand. In reply to
Senator Spooner, he said his brother. aged
thirty-five years, came TO the voting place
to bring witness his supper. His brother,
so far as witness was aware, was not
armed He has since been hanged. (pre-
sumably for connection with the election
riot, though this point was not deveioped).
He was a Republican.
j. NJ Nicholson. white, 81 years of age,
planter, twenty years a resident Of Wash
ington county, was next examined. He
was Democrat until three wears ago
since then he has voted the Peoples ticket.
He was appointed manager Of the election
at Chadwick gin house, bat being i'll was
requested TO select some good man to serve
in his stead. For this purpose he attended
The polls, remaining all dav.
Question by Senator SDooner - Was
there an election there that day!
No, sir.
Well, why don't you explain that?
Well, / am almost aehamed to state-I
could not get any one who could write.
there were three or four who could write
but they did not wish to serve. Witness
explained there were between ninety and
ninety-five voters. fOriy-fve of whom were
white; thirty Of the latter were Polanders.
Most Of white property owners Of the
precinct lived in another precinct.
In reply To Senator SpOoner witness said
at the last election 10 that which was the
subject Of investigation, serious trouble
had occurred at Chapel Hill when two
men, one being an election officer, were
shot, the ballot box taken and votes sup
pressed Witness did not think this Oc
currence had the effect Of deterring colored
men at Chadwick's from serving as cleo
ton officers. There were only four freed
men who could write: two were not pres
ent and one Of the others had been in the
penitentiary, and for that reason was not
peated efforts to organize board failed
Witness said he announced about 10 in the
morning that there would be no vote. but
:ater he said he misunderstood the CUES
ton and that it was about that time he an
nounced his readiness 10 deliver papers
whenever a competent board should be
organized.
In reply to Senator Eustis witness said
the precinct was about evenly divided the
Republicans might have 81 majority of four
or five. No one had declined to serve by
reason OF fear Of personal injury Only
four OF the white voters Of the precinct
could read or write English and they were
prevented from serving by illness or bust
ness.
In answer to Senator Spooner witness
said he thought no one was punished for
the Chapel Hill outrages-no one knew
who did it.
Ia answert to Senator Eustis witness said
Mr. J. L. Moore zone of the memorialists
to congresS) was sheriff at the time Of the
Chapel Hill outrage.
The committee took recess until 8 this
afternoon.
After the recess Lewis P. Pennington,
colored, was called to the witness stand
He is voter at Fit Lewelen's district; was
one Of the Judges Of election last NOvem-
Der He told The story of the assault upon
the election officers b. three masked men,
who demanded and to X away the ballot
box The shooting Of Devices Bolton, one
Of the raiders. and the subsequent hanging
of T. Jones, Alfred Jones and Sned Fei
der. three colored men. On cross examin-
alton Senator Eustis read the deposition Of
witness before the coroner's inquest, in
which witness said he did not see any men
coming into the door disguised and with
pistols, and he sat were he could see both
doors. Is that statement correct? asked
Senator Eustis.
Well. no sir, that IS not
Well in what respect is that incorrectY
Well. there was doUble barrcled shot
guns and pistols round there (at the coro
ner's inques0 till | was just naturally
afraid TO tell the trnth.
On redirect examination by Senator
Spooner witness said the colored people
voted the Republican ticket, except when
they were scared up to vote the Peoples
ticket.
Felix Kinlow. colored, described the
raid at Fl Jewellers; his own flight; his
arrest with eight colored men next day,
aud being put il prison for a month and
the entry into jail by a mob of armed and
disguised men who took Sned Fielder and
witnesses father in Law and cousin. On
cross examination with considerable hesita-
tlon he testified that heard that Polk Hill
killed Devices Boltcn.
VIM Shaw, colorcd, testified that the
ballot box at Graubal polling place was
seized by armed and disguised white men.
Adinnrned until fOmorrnW